Notes: The CAROLINE class
were an improvement on the preceding ARETHUSA
class. They were ten feet longer, and with nearly three feet more
beam, they were more stable gun platforms. One of the 4" guns
was moved atop the after deckhouse, superimposed over the aft 6" gun,
and an extra pair of 4" guns was mounted on the forecastle. CARYSFORT joined the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron in
August, 1915. While serving with the Harwich Force in 1915, she
received a flying-off platform on the forecastle for launching French
monoplanes against German Zeppelins; this platform was removed in early
1916. She relieved CONQUEST in the 5th LCS in April, 1916. Her forward pair of 4" mounts (generally
found to be useless) were replace by a single 6" mount ca.
1916. A fourth 6" abaft the funnels at forecastle deck level a
year later -- at the same time, the remaining 4" guns were removed
and four more 21" TT (in twin mounts) were added. In 1917, CARYSFORT
was made the Flagship of the 7th LCS, Grand Fleet. In December,
1917, CARYSFORT collided with the SS GLENTAISE off Orfordness. Following the end of World War
I, CARYSFORT was grossly overweight and subsequently lightened by removing after
control platform and all searchlights. She joined the 2nd LCS,
Harwich Force, in April, 1919, and was sent to Baltic in 1919-20. CARYSFORT
was then returned to home waters and assigned to the 2nd LCS, Atlantic
Fleet. She patrolled Irish waters during the Civil War in 1922, then
was sent to Turkish waters during its war with Greece in 1922-23. CARYSFORT
was paid off into the Reserve at Devonport in September, 1923, but was
recommissioned for trooping duties a year later. In 1927, she was
made Flagship of the Devonport Reserve. She served as a troop
transport to China in February - July, 1929, then as the SNO's ship,
Devonport Reserve in January, 1930 until relieved by COMUS. CARYSFORT
was paid off into dockyard control at Devonport in April, 1931, and sold
for breaking up.